From a young age, I have been a big fan of the Subaru brand, right from the time that Colin McRae rallied the Subaru Legacy, that infamous sound from the boxer engine echoing around the stages is a noise only bettered by some of the old Grip B rally cars.
In the middle of 1964, Ford Motor Company in America launched the Ford Mustang, a four seater coupé that offered style, individuality and muscle under the growl of the V8 engine. The sheer V8 noise being what pretty much everyone will instantly talk about when they hear the two words Ford and Mustang.
Launched in 1998 the Ford Ranger has been a popular steed indeed, going through five generations and indeed this model tested from Monaghan Brothers in Lisnaskea is in fact a face lifted version of the current generation.
It seems like only yesterday when the last WRX STI was sold in the UK amid an outcry of sentiment on the sad loss of this iconic model. Well last year that all changed with the launch at the start of the summer of the latest WRX STi model and at the end of last year Gormley Motors in Dungannon gave us the chance to drive one to see what we thought.
First impressions of the new Sportage were positive, it is a fresh looking vehicle with three funky looking DRL LED’s in the middle of each front light cluster, quite a trademark thing for the Sportage and most certainly thinking outside the box from Kia.
Audi in Northern Ireland has for years has been a huge seller, the stigma that the infamous “rings” badge portrays along with the wide range of Diesel engines available and the specifications that can be ordered, have made the brand into one that is now seen on every residential street.
We recently received a little gem from French manufacturer Peugeot in the form of a reasonably practical 208 GT-Line. When the 208 range was launched a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to get a drive in one of the first GTi models that came into Northern Ireland and it impressed greatly, so with anticipation was keen to get driving this latest model.
It’s a brave statement to open this article with but Audi have quite possibly gained that status in a very bold segment with many a debate to be had over who is king, however for most modern drivers when they hear the name Audi they will think one of the many things; Vorsprung Durch Technik, Reliable, Good Quality, High End, Expensive, Mundane, Last Forever, Family Car and of course the old Northern Ireland favourite; Diesel.
A “bucket list” is a list of things that one person or a family wish to achieve, conquer or experience before they die, aka “kick the bucket”. This may feel like a morbid way of opening this article but one must live life to the full and if you haven’t got such a list then create one and start working your way through it as none of us know what is around the corner.
Following the successful launch of the new 208 in June 2012, Peugeot has rejuvenated the diverse Supermini car segment. This new model revolutionises customer choice with its elegance, style, compactness, occupant space and equipment. The 208 has been an instant success and the 208 GTi will deliver even stronger desirability with exhilaration, performance and panache.